Im looking to put radials on my 57 Olds Starfire 98 and presently considering Coker's wide whites:
http://www.cokertire.com/p225-75r14-...whitewall.html

Anyone using these? Would appreciate opinions, and also if you need a tube for the stock rim? Trying to get a little better handling and thought this a good start.

 

Those are good tires, a few guys around here use them. They are tubeless.

 

I think these tires are cheaper if you order them thru EBay- thru Summit Racing

 

It makes sense Coker would be cheaper.

 

Looks like summit sell them for the same price, but free shipping.
Coker has a coupon code on their ordering site. Has anyone ever used a code?

Mark
Doing some Christmas shopping for me....

 

Those are the same as I have on my '55olds. I'm very satisfied with the ride and they seem to be holding up well.Have put 12,000 Miles on them and still look like new! Larry

 

I like Diamondback tires.

 

I bought a set of wide whites (3 inch) from Calli Tire and I'm happy so far... They ride nice and were about $155 bucks each Tedd.....http://www.callitw.com/

 

X2 on the Diamondback. I bought a set of the Cokers and they yellowed up and stained within a few months and were difficult to try and clean. I could not get the stains to go away completely. I sold them with only a few thousand miles.

The Diamondbacks have been on my 57 for 2 years stay white and are easy to clean. I won't be going back to Cokers.

http://www.dbtires.com/2013_catalog/...log_Web_Hi.pdf

 

Make sure your front end is up to snuff. The radials will put more strain on any weak components. Been there.

 

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I was following along on this thread since I am going to have to 'tire up' eventually on my 47 and will want wide whitewalls. I never gave a thought to purchasing bias ply tires until I read your comment. Please explain because like so much knowledge this doesn't seem self evident. Thanks,
Jerry

 

Putting radials on a 60's car is no problem, especially if it has power steering.
Radials on an older car that was built for skinny bia ply tires, is a different deal.
In a hard corner, radials will grip, where a bias ply tire will slip.
You won't have any problems if:
1. Your front end is tight, and without worn components.
2. You don't order tires that are too much wider. With stock components, and no power steering, it gets very tiring to steer fatter radials.
I just took 70 series radials off of our '37 Olds due to converting it back to bone stock, and due to fender clearance issues. It steers so much better, & easier with the correct bias ply 670-16 tires on stock rims.
If you go with radials, make sure they are as close to the stock width, height, and profile as you can get.
If you go with bias ply tires, I found it helpful to pick a tread with a zig-zag pattern. It cut down on the darting quite a bit.

Jerry

 

Jerry, thanks for the explanation. I can see you have given it considerable thought. I think you are correct insofar as tire selection on older cars without modifications.

The 47 has modified front and rear suspension with a quality aftermarket MII on front and 67 GTO on rear but using the original trailing arms and Panhard-type locater. I am kind of concerned about the flimsy looking rear anti-sway bar but have not found a satisfactory replacement. I am going to put new rubber bushings on all rear components. Front already has new ball joints, tubular arms and rubber and will get stiffer springs than the MII items.
Jerry B.